February 2008

At The Happiness Institute I have, for quite some time now, stongly advocated the benefits of exercise, activity and also, rest and relaxation. Dating back to my clinical psychology days when I spent much time helping people managing chronic pain I've also advocated a...

10 February, 2008

Although the quote below may not at first appear to be happiness related there is, as you'll see below, a direct parallel with my beliefs about happiness and how we can all create it. I never did anything by accident, nor did any of...

09 February, 2008

What makes you happy? Spirituality typically accounts for four or five per cent of an adult's happiness, but new research has found a much stronger influence of spirituality in children. Mark Holder, Assoc. Prof. of Psychology at UBC Okanagan, and graduate student Judi Wallace recently tested...

09 February, 2008

It may take a lot of frequent-flier miles, a penchant for cold places, a tolerance of taxes and regular doses of chocolate, but happiness could be within reach. However, it's not where most people might expect. Just ask Eric Weiner, who made it his mission to...

08 February, 2008

Happiness is more often than not associated with "high arousal" emotions such as joy and excitement. But at The Happiness Institute we've always considered that in addition to these wonderful positive emotions, happiness also includes the full range of "low arousal" positive emotions such...

08 February, 2008

Here's a great quote about excellence with my happiness re-interpretation below: Excellence in any department can be attained only by the labor of a lifetime; it is not to be purchased at a lesser price. - Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, English Author and Critic Happiness, any way...

07 February, 2008

Recent months has seen some unfounded and at times ridiculous criticism of the happiness and positive psychology movements. In this letter to the editor, one of the founders of the positive psychology movement and author of, among other things, "Authentic Happiness", Martin Seligman challenges...

06 February, 2008

Happiness at work: - does it matter? - is happiness at work associated with benefits for the employer/organisation? - does happiness impact on team work and other variables? - what, if any, is the relationship between happiness and leadership, problem solving, health and more? To read...

06 February, 2008

Here at The Happiness Institute we talk a lot about how achieving happiness requires nothing more than practising a few simple disciplines every day. Well, I just discovered an interesting article about how practice leads to expertise...

06 February, 2008

Health and happiness are two of the universal goals of all people. Many philosophers, spiritual teachers, the world's major religions, including Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have prized gratitude as a spiritually beneficial emotional state. Now doctors and psychologists have joined in the chorus. Medical...

05 February, 2008